Related articles

The incidents included the case of 72-year-old Albert Insch, who died alone last month - 19 hours after dialling 999.

A carer found his body the next morning at a sheltered housing complex in Inverness.

His son, Ally, says police officers initially told him the call centre thought the call was a hoax, and so did nothing.

GETTY

Some serious errors have resulted in a delayed response to life threatening incidents

His family were later told by a liaison officer that police had attended, but had gone to the wrong address.

Since the process began in April 2016, there have been 2.2 million calls from the public

Deputy Chief Constable Johnny Gwynne

The force watchdog, the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner, is now looking into the case.

Another case involved a 999 call to report a road accident where a car had been left on its side and partially blocking the road.

However, the dispatcher noted the wrong location and emergency services only arrived an hour later, after a second 999 call was made.

And in yet another astonishing blunder, a caller made a 999 call regarding a "threat to life" but received no response.

The caller phoned another three times to ask why officers had not been dispatched. The incident report reveals the dispatcher failed to clarify the location, and informed the caller there were no officers available to send out.

The person in question was later found unconscious by officers.

GETTY

Police Scotland said the notable incidents amounted to one in every 22,500 calls

And in a number of incidents the police attended the wrong town due to call centre misunderstandings.

Details of the incidents follow a review ordered in the wake of the deaths of Lamara Bell and John Yuill on the M9 in July 2015.

Ms Bell, 25, lay injured for around 72 hours following the accident in Stirlingshire and died in hospital. Mr Yuill, 28, was killed in the crash, which was reported to police the day it happened, but the call was not followed up.

GETTY

Some officers had also been sent to the wrong locations by bungling staff it was reported

Police Scotland said the notable incidents amounted to one in every 22,500 calls.

Deputy Chief Constable Johnny Gwynne said: "We strive to make the service and our response the best it can be and that is why it's vitally important we get it right and learn from issues where management intervention is needed.

“Since the process began in April 2016, there have been 2.2 million calls from the public. We have excellent, committed staff and officers who receive those calls and who respond on the ground."

Justice Secretary Michael Matheson said: "It is quite right that the service has been taking steps to respond to issues when they arise."